Commissioner Sam Kaufman with members of Key West’s Women’s Flag Football team. Diane Berudlsen, who founded the Women’s International Flag Football Association, holds the proclamation.

City Commissioner Sam Kaufman, during last week’s City Commission meeting, proclaimed January 28th as International Women’s Flag Football Association Day.

The International Women’s Flag Football Association is a union of women’s and girls’ flag football teams, leagues, and individual players from around the world, run by women. Their mission is to provide an opportunity for all females regardless of race, nationality, age, skill level, economic status or sexual orientation to enjoy healthy competition, have fun, develop teamwork skills, learn fair play, good sportsmanship, create new teams and unify exiting teams and leagues to help grow and organize the sport.

The association’s goal is, says the proclamation, “to promote the educational process, assist our players through our tournaments, trainings, clinics and promotional tours to build self-esteem, confidence, enhance leadership skills to better compete in the business and political world to one day have peace and to professionalize the sport of flag football for women.”

On Thursday, January 26th, the association will hold an opening ceremony for the 26th Annual Kelly McGillis Classic. The ceremony runs from 4 p.m. until 6 pm. at LaTeDa and will feature Diana Nyad as the keynote speaker.